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Freeland man who allegedly threatened officials released on bail

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A Freeland man who allegedly verbally threatened borough officials twice over a code violation will be released on unsecured bail.

An agreement on bail conditions established at his preliminary hearing Wednesday morning mandates that Wayne Harding, 57, receive counseling and treatment.

Harding has been in prison since his arrest on Sept. 3 on a second charge related to threatening borough officials. His bail was reduced after Freeland police spoke with his court-appointed attorney, Maura Armezzani, prior to the hearing before Magisterial District Judge Gerald Feissner.

After that discussion, police and defense counsel asked Feissner to reduce bail from $25,000 straight to unsecured, meaning Harding does not have to post money to be released from prison while he awaits future court proceedings on a single count of terroristic threats.

Those conditions include refraining from any contact with all borough officials or employees, entering treatment with Northeast Counseling Services and complying with all guidelines and conditions the agency sets, which could include inpatient counseling.

Harding also must sign a confidentiality waiver with the counseling service, allowing all information on him to be available to the courts. In addition, he was placed on home confinement between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. and must refrain from committing any other crimes.

Feissner was stern when he told Harding multiple times during the proceeding that if he fails to abide by the court-ordered bail conditions he would be taken back to jail.

"Based on the agreement you're going to have to live by my rules or you're going back to jail," Feissner said. The judge repeatedly asked Harding if he understood the proceedings, to which Harding said he understood.

After asking how long Harding had been incarcerated, Feissner asked him, "Would you like to go back to jail?" Harding, who only spoke to answer the judge during the hearing, stated, "I'd rather die."

Armezzani declined comment, citing agency policy that prohibits it. Freeland police Sgt. Matt Williams felt the outcome of Wednesday's court proceeding was the best for those involved, noting Harding was ordered by the court to obtain help.

Harding allegedly threatened harm to borough council President Robert Quinn in August over the code violation related to vehicles the borough felt were illegally parked. Court papers in that case state Harding appeared to think Quinn was Code Enforcement Officer Brian Maso while making the threats.

The criminal charge for that incident was withdrawn and replaced with a citation, according to a court docket.

Then, less than a week later, Harding allegedly approached an unnamed borough maintenance employee at the Freeland Public Park and made threats toward the borough, Maso and Freeland police, court papers state. Specifically, police allege in court papers that Harding said, "I'm going to burn the town of Freeland to the ground. Then I'm going to kill the code officer and his family and then I'm going to kill the police."

The second threat resulted in a borough council meeting scheduled for the following day to be canceled as a precaution, Quinn said at the time.

Harding awaits formal arraignment on the Sept. 3 charge that is scheduled for Nov. 22 at 9:15 a.m. at the Luzerne County courthouse. He also awaits a disposition on a summary offense in relation to the Aug. 21 incident. That proceeding will be held at Feissner's office.

achristman@standardspeaker.com

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